If a genetic counselor was examining a pedigree chart and noticed an occurrence of a disease in every generation,he most likely could assume that the disease was caused by:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If the disease is present in every generation, it is most likely an autosomal dominant disorder, which means that only one copy of the mutated gene is needed to cause the disease. Autosomal recessive disorders would only occur when two carriers of the mutated gene have children together, and chromosomal abnormalities or having an extra set of chromosomes would result in multiple genetic disorders or birth defects, not just one specific disease. A new recurring mutation could be a possibility, but it is less likely than an autosomal dominant disorder.

If a Genetic Counselor Was Examining a Pedigree Chart and Noticed